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Suicide bombings in Afghanistan target Taliban Heartland

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 18:25:36 +0000

A suicide bombing outside a bank in southern Afghanistan left people dead on Thursday At least 20 people have been implicated, including several members of the Taliban, according to hospital staff, in a bloody reminder of the terrorist threats that have persisted in the country since the end of the US-led war.

The attack took place around 8:30 a.m., when a bomber detonated explosives in front of a New Kabul Bank branch in Kandahar City, the capital of Kandahar province, according to Taliban officials. The blast appeared to have targeted Taliban members who had gathered at the bank to collect their salaries, witnesses and hospital staff said.

About 50 others were injured, according to a doctor and a nurse at Mirwais Regional Hospital in Kandahar city, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media.

Taliban officials, who disputed the higher death toll, said three people were killed and a dozen others injured in the blast.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban officials at the Interior Ministry said their initial investigation indicated that an Islamic State affiliate in the region — the Islamic State-Khorasan, or ISIS-K — was behind the blast.

The government “condemns this attack and assures the people that the perpetrators of this attack will be identified, arrested and handed over to judicial centers as soon as possible,” it said. a statement from the ministry published on X.

Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban movement and home to the government’s supreme leader, Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada. The explosion seemed to send a message that even Taliban soldiers at the heart of the group were not safe.

Although overall security in the country has improved since the US-led war ended in August 2021 and the Taliban took control, there have been sporadic attacks across Afghanistan, mainly targeting Taliban security forces and the Hazara ethnic minority .

The Islamic State affiliate in the region has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. Since seizing power, Taliban security forces have waged a brutal campaign to eliminate ISIS-K. The Taliban killed at least eight of the group’s leaders last year and pushed many other ISIS-K fighters into neighboring Pakistan, according to U.S. officials.

But the group, which is hostile to the Taliban and says it does not adhere to true Sharia law, remains a threat in Afghanistan. The country has also launched large-scale attacks in Pakistan over the past two years, raising concerns that the region is becoming a hotbed of international terrorism.

Hameedullah Sherzad, 40, said he was sleeping in his house next to the bank in Kandahar City on Thursday when his apartment building suddenly shook, waking him. He ran outside and saw Taliban police rushing to the bank and others loading mutilated bodies into the back of their pickup trucks.

“People were bloodied and lying on the back of the vehicles,” he said. When more police vehicles arrived, Mr. Sherzad said, he helped carry four bodies and eight other injured people to hospital.

Dastagir Wafaiee, 24, a local resident, said he was also woken up by the sound of the explosion. He rushed to the roof of his apartment building and saw Taliban vehicles racing toward the scene.

As Taliban police loaded the dead and wounded into their vehicles, others collected the victims’ clothes and shoes and swept up shards of broken glass, Mr. Wafaiee said.

A photo of the aftermath of the attack circulating in Taliban WhatsApp groups and seen by The New York Times shows shattered windows on the bank’s second floor and streaks of blood staining the ground outside the bank’s entrance.

Immediately after the explosion, Taliban officials tried to downplay the severity of the attack and allay concerns that it represented a security lapse by their intelligence and military forces.

“The condition of the injured is not serious; they have superficial injuries,” Inamullah Samangani, director of information and culture of Kandahar province, said in a statement. “The situation is under control.”

Yaqoob Akbary And Safiullah Padshah contributed reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan.

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Pakistan accused of killing eight women and children in air strikes in Afghanistan

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 22:21:22 +0000

The recent events involving Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan have escalated tensions between the two neighboring countries. Eight people…

The recent events involving Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan have escalated tensions between the two neighboring countries.

Eight people, all women and children, were killed in ‘reckless’ airstrikes by the Pakistani army in Afghanistan’s border areas. In fact, this news is confirmed by the spokesperson of the Taliban government

Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups regularly carry out attacks from the neighboring country.

According to sources, Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces, near the border with Pakistan, around 3 a.m.

The Taliban government “strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation and an attack on the sovereignty of Afghanistan

The attacks come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack on Pakistani territory for which the country’s President Asif Ali Zardari had vowed revenge.

He said: Pakistan has decided that whoever enters our borders, homes or country and commits terror, we will respond strongly to them, regardless of who it is or from which country.

Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as the Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Pakistan’s own Taliban group, which operates across the porous border with Afghanistan.

According to Taliban authorities, Pakistani military helicopters carried out attacks along the Afghan side of the border in 2022, killing at least 47 people.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Monday’s attacks targeted the group and that its members operate from Pakistan.

Efforts are being made through diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation, but the incident has increased concerns about stability in the region. There are fears that further escalation could worsen existing tensions and lead to wider conflict.

As the situation continues to unfold, both Pakistan and Afghanistan are under pressure to find a peaceful solution to avoid further destabilization in the region.
#pakistan #pakistanafghanistan #pakistaneconomy
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Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan kill at least eight people, Taliban officials say

Jeffrey Bailey — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:52:17 +0000

Pakistan launched two airstrikes on Afghanistan on Monday morning, killing at least eight people, Afghan officials said, escalating simmering tensions between the two countries.

The pre-dawn attacks were carried out around 3 a.m. in Paktika and Khost provinces in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials said. Three children were among the dead, according to Taliban officials, who condemned the attacks as a violation of Afghan territory.

The attacks came amid a wave of attacks by militants in Pakistan since the Taliban seized power in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have blamed the wave of attacks on militants based in Afghan territory and protected by the Taliban government. Taliban officials have denied these claims.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban government in Afghanistan, said in a statement about X that his country has “a long experience in the struggle for freedom against the superpowers of the world” and “does not allow anyone to invade its territory.”

“Such incidents could have very bad consequences, which are beyond Pakistan’s control,” he added.

The Pakistani action came two days after militants attacked a military post in northwestern Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan. The airstrikes targeted hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, according to a senior Pakistani security official who was not authorized to speak to the news media and requested anonymity. The Pakistani military and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The attacks put a spotlight on violence that has flared in Pakistan in recent years, disrupting a relatively quiet period since the Pakistani military carried out a major military operation in 2014, forcing militants across the border into Afghanistan.

After the US-backed government in Afghanistan collapsed in August 2021, the pace of attacks by militants in Pakistan soared, with the attacks themselves becoming more brazen. In 2023, attacks by militant groups in Pakistan rose nearly 20 percent from the previous year, according to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, which monitors extremist violence and is based in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.

The violence has fueled fears of a wider conflict erupting along the historically disputed border, known as the Durand Line, between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has also fueled growing tensions between Pakistani authorities and Taliban officials, who deny providing support to militant groups operating in Pakistan, including their ally the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistani officials have repeatedly asked the Taliban government in Afghanistan to rein in the militants. In response, Taliban authorities proposed to Pakistan to meet the militants’ demands and offered to mediate talks.

Pakistani authorities’ frustration with the Taliban government appeared to boil over in September, when the Pakistani government announced a policy aimed at expelling the more than half a million Afghans living illegally in Pakistan.

Monday’s attacks appeared to send a new signal to the Taliban government that the Pakistani military and newly elected government would take a tougher stance against militant violence.

The airstrikes were aimed at “dispelling the perception of a weak Pakistani state,” said Muhammad Amir Rana, head of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies. They also “reflect a unified counter-terrorism policy between the new civilian government and the military,” he added.

While sporadic cross-border shelling from Pakistan regularly killed civilians in Afghanistan during the US-led war, Monday’s attacks were the first launched by Pakistan on Afghanistan in almost two years. The last attacks, in April 2022, killed at least 45 people in Khost and Kunar provinces in eastern Afghanistan.

Monday’s attacks appeared to be part of the military’s response to Saturday’s attack on the military post, a suicide bombing that killed seven members of Pakistan’s security forces. That attack also prompted the military to conduct an operation in the area and kill eight militants, according to a statement Monday from the Inter-Services Public Relations office, the media arm of the Pakistani military.

Pakistani government officials promised a sustained response to the militants’ attack.

“Pakistan has decided that whoever enters our borders, homes or country to commit terror, we will respond strongly to them regardless of their identity or country of origin,” President Asif Ali Zardari said while speaking at the funeral prayer for the slain army officers . during the attack.

Safiullah Padshah contributed reporting from Kabul; And Salman Masood from Islamabad, Pakistan.

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18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan have been granted Indian citizenship in Ahmedabad

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 23:26:46 +0000

The camp was organized at the district collector office.

The central government implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, March 11. (File image)

Indian Citizenship under CAA: Just a few days after the details and rules of implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 were announced by the Centre, 18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan, living in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, were granted Indian citizenship on Saturday at a camp attended by the Gujarat Home Minister Harsh. Sanghavi.

An official press release said that the Gazette notifications of 2016 and 2018 empower the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in Gujarat to grant Indian citizenship to people from minority communities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The official press release said that with Saturday’s event, a total of 1,167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan living in Ahmedabad have been granted Indian citizenship so far.

The camp was organized at the district office where Harish Sanghavi granted Indian citizenship to the refugees and urged them to work together to realize the dream of a new India.

“It is expected that all of you will be determined to participate in the development journey of the country,” he said, adding that the Central and State Governments are committed to bringing all those who have acquired Indian citizenship into the mainstream of the society to bring.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made special efforts to help the suffering minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh obtain Indian citizenship easily and quickly,” he said.

The central government implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, March 11.

In this regard, the Center has notified the rules for implementation of the law.

The Indian government announced the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, March 11. The CAA rules aim to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians who have migrated from Bangladesh. , Pakistan and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

(With PTI inputs)

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Meghan Markle makes traditional Afghan flat bread as she and Prince Harry visit the Archewell Foundation’s San Antonio Welcome Project in Texas

Sabir Ansary — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:48:32 +0000

By Maria Chiorando for Mailonline

Published: 6:17 AM EDT, March 10, 2024 | Updated: 6:31 AM EDT, March 10, 2024

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited the Archewell Foundation’s San Antonio Welcome Project on Friday.

The couple was in Texas for Meghan, 42, to appear on a panel that evening at an arts festival in Austin, about an hour away.

During their visit, details of which were shared on Archewell’s slick website, it was explained that the project “supports the creation of programs for women recently resettled from Afghanistan.”

According to reports, The Welcome Project grew out of Meghan’s previous work with the UK’s Hubb Community Kitchen.

According to the website: ‘Together with Archewell Foundation partner Culturingua, this sector of The Welcome Project meets regularly to further develop their sewing skills and build community.’

Meghan Markle speaks with one of the women from the Archewell Foundation’s San Antonio Welcome Project during a visit on Friday

The former senior royal wore a dark blue blazer when she visited the venue, and teamed it with figure-hugging dark trousers.

Meghan tied her long locks into a low ponytail, with loose waves cascading down her back.

She accessorized the ensemble with several gold jewelry pieces, including what appeared to be Diana, Princess of Wales’s Cartier gold Tank watch.

The Duchess paired this with a gold tennis bracelet and another chunky gold bracelet, all worn on one wrist.

Photos from the visit show the former senior royals joining the women as they work on their projects.

They added that they “learned about the newfound joy and creativity they have fostered together.”

To conclude the visit, everyone enjoyed a home-cooked meal.

As part of the project, these meals, known as ‘Welcome Dinners’, are designed to bring those participating in the initiative together over food.

As part of the meal, the Duchess – who has spoken several times about her love of cooking – took part in making bolani, a traditional Afghan flatbread.

The Welcome Project was announced in December 2023.

According to Archewell, “With a belief in the power of connection and a goal of uplifting communities, The Welcome Project supports the creation of programs for women recently resettled from Afghanistan.

“There are currently eleven active Welcome Projects in the US, designed to promote a sense of connection through activities such as sewing, art, walking, swimming, photography, storytelling and cooking.

“By facilitating women-based programming, The Welcome Project also provides access to critical resources and opportunities that not only support the women who participate in The Welcome Project, but also improve the lives of those around them: their families and their communities .’

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Father of a Marine killed in Afghanistan is arrested during Biden’s speech

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 22:00:30 +0000

Steve Nikoui, the father of a U.S. Marine who died in 2021 during the evacuation of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, was arrested and charged with a felony for interrupting President Biden during his State of the Union address, according to Capitol Police.

Mr. Nikoui shouted “Abbey Gate, Abbey Gate” during the president’s speech, a reference to where his son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui and twelve other troops were killed during the chaotic final days of the American presence in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Police officers quickly removed Mr. Nikoui, 51, from the stand where he was the guest of Representative Brian Mast, Republican of Florida. Mr. Biden paused briefly during the interruption but quickly continued.

A statement from the Capitol Police said officers warned Mr. Nikoui to stop, and when he did not, they removed him from the room.

In the statement, agents said: “This is a routine charge on Capitol Hill. People who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress are typically released after paying a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without a trial.”

Mr. Nikoui has been an outspoken critic of Mr. Biden since the death of his son. In August 2021 he made told The Daily Beast that he blamed the president for the tragedy.

“They sent my son there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban provide security outside,” Mr. Nikoui said at the time, according to the news organization.

“I blame my own military leaders,” he said, adding: “Biden turned his back on him. That is it.”

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Anger when the city council scraps the Land Recognition at every meeting and instead pronounces a bizarre two-sentence sentence… so DO YOU think this is better or worse?

Albert Elence — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 01:17:10 +0000

By Kylie Stevens for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 7:50 PM EST, March 3, 2024 | Updated: 8:11 PM EST, March 3, 2024

A small regional council has sparked controversy by abandoning Land Recognition in favor of a more ‘inclusive’ declaration.

Naracoorte Lucindale Council voted last week to replace the traditional recognition that paid respect to the past and present traditional owners of the ancestral lands in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region.

The opening prayer has also been scrapped following a recent review of council meeting procedures by Mayor Patrick Ross.

Future meetings will begin with a modified acknowledgment: “We recognize and respect our complex history. We welcome everyone to build our future together.”

Reconciliation SA denounced the move, claiming it was an example of the council’s ‘backtracking on progress’.

Cr Ross defended the change and rejected arguments showing a lack of understanding of the significant and important role of First Nations culture.

A municipality’s decision to replace the Recognition of Land has sparked outrage among reconciliation groups. The photo shows participants of the Invasion Day

Reconciliation SA denounced the move, claiming it was an example of the council’s “backtracking on progress.” Pictured is a Welcome to Country performed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2023

“I was guided by the local government handbook, which makes no mention of recognition to the country,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘It was clear to me that everything we do as a municipality must be inclusive.

“About 25 percent of our community was born abroad in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria, so I didn’t see a need for a prayer.”

Every five years the council reviews its meeting procedures.

Cr Ross said the amended recognition still recognizes and respects the past and present traditional owners of the ancestral lands.

He said he was surprised to hear that his “small regional council”, which serves a population of just under 9,000, had made national headlines.

He emphasized that community feedback had been “incredibly positive,” with the exception of one anonymous letter.

Reconciliation SA has expressed deep disappointment, claiming the council’s move did not reflect the region’s spirit in engaging First Nations people

“When you remove recognitions to nations and elders, you remove visibility and diminish the importance of First Nations in our country’s more than 65,000 years of history,” CEO Jason Downs said.

“The elected members have now established a future plan for division based on a lack of awareness and understanding of the Recognizing Country.

‘Erasing the existence of a culture to keep things simple is not a good position for a region dependent on tourism, nor a reflection on global consciousness and embracing the ESG framework for future investment and growth.’

Naracoorte Lucindale Council has replaced recognition of the country with a more ‘inclusive’ recognition

“When individual ideology impacts a community’s future and business growth, there is reason to be concerned.”

The organization offered to hold a workshop together with the municipality to provide ‘context, advice and perspective’.

Cr Ross said he has yet to personally hear from Reconciliation SA.

“We would love it if Reconciliation SA would make a delegation to one of our meetings,” he said.

Naracoorte Lucindale is the latest of a large number of South Australian councils to change their Recognition of Country to a more inclusive statement at meetings in the wake of the defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum

Northern Areas Council, 200km north of Adelaide, in November became the first to pass a motion to remove official recognition from meetings and official correspondence.

Mayor Patrick Ross (pictured) made the changes following a recent overhaul of meeting procedures

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Britain to ban extremist Islamist preachers from entering the country: report

Sabir Ansary — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 15:20:57 +0000

The UK will ban extremist Islamic preachers from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia from entering the country.

File photo/representative

London: Hate preachers with extremist Islamist views from countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia will be banned from entering Britain under new plans being drawn up by the government, according to a British media report on Sunday.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the British government is concerned about a “shocking increase” in extremist activity and officials are being deputed to identify the most dangerous extremists from abroad so they can be added to visa warning lists. Under the new plans, those on the list will automatically be refused entry to Britain.

The revelation comes days after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave an impassioned speech from the podium at 10 Downing Street in London, warning that the country’s democratic and multi-faith values were under threat from extremists.

“We will also act to prevent people from entering this country whose aim is to undermine its values,” Sunak said in his speech on Friday.

“The Home Secretary has instructed that if those here on visas choose to spread hatred about protests or try to intimidate people, we will revoke their right to be here,” he said.

The British Indian leader had also appealed to demonstrators who took to the streets in the country to protest the conflict between Israel and Hamas to ensure that their actions were not hijacked by extremists.

“The time has now come when we must all stand together to fight the forces of division and defeat this poison. We must face the extremists who want to tear us apart,” he said, warning that “Islamist extremists and the far right feed and encourage each other.”

Thousands took to the streets on Saturday in a new wave of pro-Palestinian protests, with the Metropolitan Police making 12 arrests for activities contrary to peace in London.

According to The Daily Telegraph report, an official review by Lord Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, calls on ministers to tackle the growing threat posed by fringe, left-wing groups aligned with have linked such provocations to Islamist extremists. -Palestine marches through Britain.

“One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat posed by anti-democratic far-left groups, in addition to the threat posed by Islamists and the far right. You see an unholy alliance between far-left groups and some Islamist groups extremism that we saw during the marches,” he told the newspaper.

Walney’s report is with the Home Office and will be published later this month.

“Extremism has no place in our society and we will not tolerate tactics that aim to intimidate, threaten or disrupt the law-abiding majority,” a Home Office spokesperson said.

“In recent months we have also witnessed a small number of protesters displaying violent and hateful behaviour, and the police have our full support in tackling extremism and hate crime. We are considering the report’s recommendations very carefully and will respond in due course,” the spokesperson said.

(Only the headline was reworked by India.com staff. The copy is from an agency feed)

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Meghan’s publicity blitz continues: Duchess makes dumplings with group of female Afghan refugees in California in video released three days after surprise virtual engagement in UK

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:43:53 +0000

A video has emerged of Meghan Markle cooking traditional Afghan food with a group of 15 women who resettled in the US from Afghanistan.

The Duchess of Sussex created The Welcome Project in 2023 as part of her work with the Archewell Foundation, which she set up together with Prince Harry.

Archewell previously revealed how Meghan had joined the Southern California Welcome Project for an ‘evening of cooking and storytelling’ on February 10.

Now, a clip has now been posted on the Archewell Foundation website of the visit, which shows the Duchess wearing an apron branded with her organisation’s name.

Meghan, 42, was filmed joining the group of women cooking traditional Afghan food including Ashak and Mantuu, which are both types of dumpling.

It comes just days after the Duchess appeared in London via video link to open a new wing of an animal charity named in honour of her late friend Oli Juste – with the announcement of her virtual visit made via her and Harry’s new Sussex.com website.

And the remote charity appearance came shortly after Prince Harry was reported to have expressed an interest in returning to the royal fold in order to help his father, King Charles III, while the monarch is treated for cancer.

The Duchess of Sussex features in a video about the Southern California Welcome Project

The video shows Meghan Markle visiting The Welcome Project in California on February 10

Meghan is seen cooking traditional Afghan food with a group of 15 women in the new video

The duchess gave an emotional video message last week as she opened the new wing named in memory of her friend

An Archewell press release on Meghan’s Welcome Project visit said the women then discussed ‘their personal stories and the support they find from this intergenerational group of women’.

The visit was in partnership with Mina’s List, an organisation based in New York which has worked with women activists and political leaders in Afghanistan since 2014.

Archewell said that in 2021, Mina’s List helped evacuate and resettle over 2,000 Afghan women and families ‘through independent and coalition efforts’ – many of whom resettled in Southern California.

Mina’s List and Archewell then ‘joined forces to provide community and support to these remarkable women as they begin to rebuild their lives in the US’.

Meghan is said to have been inspired to set up the project following her work with the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London in 2017 which was organised by a group of survivors from the Grenfell Tower fire.

A photo previously issued by Archewell of Meghan at The Welcome Project on February 10

Meghan helped to prepare food at The Welcome Project in California on February 10

Meghan is seen at The Welcome Project on February 10 in a photograph issued by Archewell

Archewell states that the project was launched to create ‘a safe haven and inclusive environment for women who have recently resettled in the US from Afghanistan’.

It adds that the project has ‘a belief in the power of connection and a goal of uplifting communities’, and ‘supports the creation of programming for women who have recently resettled from Afghanistan’.

There are said to be 11 active Welcome Projects across the US ‘designed to foster a sense of belonging through activities including sewing, art, hiking, swimming, photography, storytelling, and cooking’.

Archewell also says: ‘By facilitating women-based programming, The Welcome Project also brings access to critical resources and opportunities that not only supports the women participating in The Welcome Project, but also improves the lives of those around them – their families and their communities.’

The video is located in the ‘programs’ section of the Archewell Foundation website – which is different to the new Sussex.com website that launched earlier this month.

It came days after Meghan appeared in London via video link to open a new wing of an animal charity named in honour of her late friend Oli Juste – with the announcement of her virtual visit also made via her and Harry’s glossy new Sussex.com website.

The Duchess of Sussex emotionally told how dog trainer Mr Juste’s sudden death in January 2022 left her heartbroken as his friends and family gathered at the Mayhew in the north-west of the capital, where the Oli Juste wing was unveiled in his name.

A photo shared on Harry and Meghan’s new website – the subject of controversy because of the prominence of its royal branding – showed a beaming Duchess in a beige coat crouching down and petting a dog.

Meghan Markle paid a touching tribute to her late ‘beloved friend’ Oli Juste

The Duchess of Sussex meeting a Jack Russell called Minnie during a visit to Mayhew in 2019

Meghan Markle has paid a touching tribute to her late ‘beloved friend’ dog-trainer Oli Juste as she opened a new wing of a London animal charity

Meghan had been patron of The Mayhew, said to be her favourite animal charity, since 2019, holding the role in a private capacity after being introduced to it by friend Mr Juste.

But she stepped down from the role in 2022, one year after she and Harry moved to California.

In the video message watched by Mr Juste’s friends and family, Meghan said: ‘A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Mayhew who have worked tirelessly to bring this dream to life.

‘It was so important to find a way to celebrate Oli’s memory in a manner that he would have loved.

‘Mayhew is a beacon of hope for those in need and a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together.’

A statement on Sussex.com recounted the duchess’ bond with Mr Juste, saying: ‘They shared many things throughout their friendship, among which was a deep commitment to animal welfare and a love of rescue dogs.’

It added: ‘The Oli Juste Wing is a testament to his unwavering love and commitment to our furry friends, and will improve the lives of countless animals, reminding us all of the power of compassion, connection, and care.’

The remote charity appearance comes days after Prince Harry was reported to have expressed an interest in returning to the royal fold in order to help his father, King Charles III, while the monarch is treated for cancer.

Buckingham Palace announced that His Majesty was undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of the disease on Monday February 5; it had been discovered while the King was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.

A day later, Harry flew to the UK for a very short visit with his father, who continues to carry out his constitutional duties but has stepped back from public appearances.

Since then, reports suggest the Duke of Sussex has expressed an interest among friends to take up a temporary role as a senior royal while his father continues to receive medical care.

The Times earlier reported that Harry and Charles had shared several ‘warm exchanges’ following the King’s diagnosis and his 30-minute visit to Clarence House.

A source told the paper: ‘On all practical levels it makes perfect sense for the family to come together to support the King while he’s sick.

‘Much has been said on both sides in recent years, but that has never diminished the fundamental bond of blood, and there are now pragmatic aspects to consider, with the King and Kate’s wellbeing paramount in this.

‘The details of the Clarence House meeting and subsequent conversations are private, but the feeling is that this arrangement could work.’

But royal experts believe that an invite from the palace will not be immediately forthcoming – given previous disparaging comments made by the Duke in a series of interviews and throughout his memoir, Spare.

Dickie Arbiter, Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary, told MailOnline that any expectation of welcoming Harry back into the fold was ‘a big ask’ after his previous comments and allegations.

He said: ‘He (Harry) has rubbished them for four years. I don’t see a forthcoming invitation from the family (to come back). You have got to remember the late Queen made it very clear either you are in or you are out.

Harry has recently made positive comments in American media interviews following the launch of the 2025 Invictus Games in Whistler, Vancouver in Canada.

The Duke of Sussex told Good Morning America earlier this month the King’s cancer diagnosis could have a ‘reunifying effect’ on the royal family

Charles, 75, has taken a step back from public royal duties following his cancer diagnosis, which was announced earlier this month

He told Good Morning America (GMA) his father’s illness could have a ‘reunifying effect’ on the family, adding: ‘I love my family’.

But Mr Arbiter said attempts at reconciliation may have come too late.

‘I can’t see it going anywhere. Harry did suggest in the (GMA) interview it could result in a reconciliation, but it is not much different to the comment he made almost two years ago when he dropped in on the Queen and told the Today show (on NBC) he was just making sure she was protected and had the right people around her.

‘He is good at the soundbite but this whole Whistler trip seems like a great big PR fest off the back of launching their website.’

Earlier this month the royal couple took a tour to Vancouver, Canada, in preparation for the 2025 Winter Invictus Games, ending it with a lavish gala dinner with 200 guests.

The Sussexes were captured on video footage reacting to Bublé’s altered version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way

Prince Harry walks to the stage after Bublé’s altered version of My Way

Meghan burst into laughter as Michael Bublé sang an alternative version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way at the Sussexes’ Invictus Games send off – including telling Prince Harry ‘I think we know to stay the hell out of your way’.

Harry, wearing a dark suit and a black tie, then spoke about the Invictus Games telling the audience that the athletes, who are comprised of injured and sick servicemen and women, embodied ‘courage, leadership, and fortitude.’

Meghan and Harry had been expected to head home to Montecito, California following three days of Invictus Games events in Whistler and Vancouver but extended their trip by a night to enjoy a party with athletes and organisers.

Although not part of the official schedule and intended to be held away from the media, the gala at the Vancouver Convention Centre was signposted with black and gold Invictus signs.

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The UN held a conference on Afghanistan, but the Taliban refused to participate

Jeffrey Bailey — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 17:01:40 +0000

DOHA, Qatar – The Taliban this week sent a defiant message to Western countries, donors and Afghan women's groups, refusing to attend a conference organized by the United Nations to highlight the humanitarian crises facing Afghanistan and cooperation on discuss human rights issues.

The two-day conference, which started on Sunday, was the second of its kind. It was held to try to chart a course for international involvement in the country. But the Taliban objected to the participation of some groups in the meeting. The conference, attended by special envoys from 25 countries and regional organizations, aims to increase international engagement in Afghanistan and develop a more coordinated response to the challenges facing the war-torn country.

The Taliban, Afghanistan's de facto rulers since 2021, were invited to the conference, but at the last minute the group said they would not attend. In a statement, the Taliban's foreign ministry said it should be Afghanistan's sole official representative for talks with the international community and only then could it engage in frank discussions. Involving others would hinder progress, the statement said.

“This government of Afghanistan cannot be coerced by anyone,” the report said.

Representatives of Afghan civil society, women's groups, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization attended the conference. Afghan political opposition parties, including the National Resistance Front, which has a small armed wing, were not invited, although they had asked to attend.

The Taliban's decision, announced on the eve of the conference, appeared to be taken to avoid uncomfortable conversations with Afghans living outside the country who oppose the Taliban's exclusion of women, and with political opponents in Afghanistan , several delegates said.

“The Taliban's refusal to participate in the Doha Conference and engage in meaningful dialogue with all parties, especially with the courageous women of Afghanistan, shows the group's lack of interest in seeking a lasting political solution ,” said Fawzia Koofi, a former member of the Afghan government. parliament, according to a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

“Until last night I had hope,” said Mahbouba Seraj, a women's rights advocate. “We are divided into two halves. it is impossible to have half of Afghanistan here and the other half in Afghanistan.”

She criticized the Taliban for complaining that it was “unreasonable” to include Afghans who were not members of the Taliban in the conference.

Human rights groups and political opponents of the Taliban, who declared the country an Islamic emirate, say the Afghan government should allow a pluralistic political system and include women and ethnic minorities in its government.

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